Can a shareholder make a personal claim alleging conspiracy?

Nova Scotia, Canada


The following excerpt is from Hill v. Bridgemohan, 2008 NSSC 219 (CanLII):

Master J.B. Hanebury heard an application by the defendants to strike the statement of claim as disclosing no cause of action. After thoroughly canvassing the relevant case law, he summarized the principles as follows (para.58): 1. The damages suffered by a corporation can be claimed by the corporation itself, and if a corporation fails to act, a derivative action can be commenced by the shareholders pursuant to the Business Corporations Act. Shareholders cannot raise individual claims in respect of a wrong done to the corporation. 2. This principle, the rule found in Foss v. Harbottle, applies to claims in tort, including claims alleging a conspiracy. 3. When a separate and distinct claim can be made with respect to a wrong done to a shareholder qua individual, a personal action may lie, assuming all the requisite elements of a cause of action can be made out. 4. Tort law recognizes a claim of conspiracy when the predominant purpose of the defendant's conduct is to injure the plaintiff, or when the defendant's conduct is directed toward the plaintiff, it is unlawful, and the defendant should know that the plaintiff is therefore likely to be injured. In either case there must be actual damages suffered directly by the plaintiff, other than consequential damages, damages suffered as a consequence of those suffered by the corporation. 5. For a shareholder to make a personal claim alleging conspiracy, that does not violate the rule in Foss v. Harbottle, two criteria must be met. First, there must be a claim that the predominant purpose of the defendant's conduct was to injure the individual plaintiff or the conduct was unlawful, directed toward the plaintiff and the defendant knew or should have known that the plaintiff was therefore likely to be injured. Second, the damages must be suffered directly by the plaintiff. They must be independent damages, as distinguished from the indirect damages suffered as a consequence of damage to the company. Only when these two criteria are met can a personal claim in tort alleging conspiracy, rather than a corporate or derivative action, be maintained.

Other Questions


Is a person who killed another person entitled to a portion of the estate of the deceased, even if that person was of unsound mind? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What is the definition of a claim for personal injury in a personal injury action? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What is the test for adding an additional claim in a personal injury action? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What factors are considered to determine whether a person has a valid claim? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What is the limitation period for a claim against a defendant who has been denied a claim for over a year? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Does a personal representative have a duty to deliver a legal file to the personal representative of the deceased? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What is the test for a motion to amend the limitation period on a personal injury claim? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Can a shareholder bring a personal action against the management of a corporation for failing to oversee or supervise management? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
What is the test for assessing costs when a self represented person is involved in a personal injury action? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Is a defendant liable to a plaintiff's claim that they could reasonably have avoided some part of the loss claimed? (Nova Scotia, Canada)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.